SANDF
By Thabo Mosia
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has confirmed that the second group of soldiers returning from the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIRC) is expected to arrive today, Sunday, 15 June 2025, at Air Force Base Waterkloof between 15h00 and 17h00. This follows the delayed return of the first group on Friday, 13 June 2025, which faced logistical hiccups. A third group is set to land on Monday, 16 June 2025, during the same time window, marking another step in the SANDF’s phased withdrawal from the conflict zone. The troops will undergo a standard demobilisation programme, including health screenings, psychological support, and reunification services, as the nation prepares to welcome its heroes home.
Soldiers Set to Land Today: SANDF’s Announcement
SANDF spokesperson Rear Admiral (Junior Grade) Prince Tshabalala announced today, Sunday, 15 June 2025: “The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) announces the upcoming arrival of the second group of soldiers returning from the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIRC). This group is scheduled and expected to land at Air Force Base Waterkloof on Sunday, 15 June 2025, between 15h00 and 17h00. A third group is expected to return on Monday, 16 June 2025, during the same time window period.” He added that this phased return is part of the SANDF’s planned withdrawal from the mission area.
Once on South African soil, the soldiers will begin a demobilisation process that includes health checks, mental health support, and help to reunite with their families. Media are invited to cover the arrival but must carry valid accreditation cards and confirm attendance with Major Sizakele Malope on 072 769 0143 (Waterkloof) or Major Thabo Sello on 060 554 8480 (Bloemfontein). This homecoming follows a challenging mission and a bumpy return for the first group, setting the stage for an emotional welcome today.
First Group’s Return: A Rocky Road Home
The first group of 249 SANDF soldiers touched down at Waterkloof Air Force Base on Friday, 13 June 2025, but their arrival was far from smooth. Originally expected earlier that day at Bram Fischer International Airport in Bloemfontein, technical and logistical issues with the contracted airline forced a last-minute change. Defence Minister Angie Motshekga explained: “Initially, we were going to use smaller flights, but they decided to use a bigger one to bring more soldiers at once. But now, there are issues with the staircases for the larger aircraft at Bloemfontein airport.” Without the right ground support equipment, the plane was rerouted to Waterkloof, delaying the soldiers’ homecoming into late Friday night.
Their journey had already been exhausting. Leaving Goma in the DRC on Thursday, the troops travelled overland to a green zone in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, for an overnight rest. On Friday morning, they moved 200-300 kilometres south to Moanza Airport, where they boarded a flight operated by Kenyan Airways after a switch from Tanzanian Airways. The seven-to-eight-hour flight added to their fatigue, with Motshekga noting, “They’ve been on the road and in between the whole day.” Despite the setbacks, their safe arrival brought relief to a nation that had been holding its breath.
A Mission of Courage and Loss
The SANDF’s deployment to the DRC began in December 2023 as part of the SADC Mission in the DRC (SAMIRC), aimed at supporting the Congolese government against armed groups like the M23 rebels. Over 2,000 South African troops joined Tanzanian and Malawian forces in Goma and Sake, facing tough conditions—combat, rough terrain, and months away from home. The mission took a heavy toll in January 2025, when 14 South African soldiers lost their lives in fierce clashes, leaving families and the force reeling.
The withdrawal, announced on 4 May 2025, came after diplomatic progress and a push for peace talks between the M23 and the DRC government. Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Siphiwe Sangweni said, “Our soldiers started travelling from Goma yesterday and up to the green zone in Kilimanjaro and slept over, and this morning they woke up refreshed.” He highlighted the mission’s achievements, noting that it helped calm the region, paving the way for the phased return now underway. With larger aircraft in use, only nine trips—or sorties—are needed to bring all troops home by the end of June, with flights scheduled every two days.
Motshekga’s Mixed Emotions: Pride and Frustration
At a media briefing on Friday, Motshekga shared her feelings about the first group’s return. “It is really with immense pride and profound sense of gratitude that I stand before you,” she said, celebrating the troops’ efforts in a dangerous mission. She thanked Tanzania for offering a safe rest stop, Rwanda for ensuring safe passage, and Malawi for their partnership. “We remain steadfastly committed to a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region,” she added, underscoring South Africa’s peacekeeping role.
But her pride was overshadowed by frustration over the delay. “We’ve been in communication with the team in Tanzania until before we came in here,” she said. “We’ve been in contact with them the whole morning around getting them to explain what the issues are.” Admitting she felt “very anxious” and “very disappointed,” Motshekga reflected the mood of families and soldiers alike. “I think the families are feeling very anxious, and the soldiers themselves—they’ve been on the road and in between the whole day because they were looking forward to coming home,” she said. Still, she remained optimistic: “We are genuinely excited that they are coming home today.”
Families Wait as Demobilisation Begins
For the soldiers who landed on Friday, the journey isn’t quite over. After arriving at Waterkloof, they were moved to a base in Bloemfontein for a three-to-four-day demobilisation process. “Our main focus now is on prioritizing their standard procedures of demobilization,” Motshekga said. “This will include crucial psychosocial sessions, after which they will return to their respective units and thereafter be reunited with their families.” Social workers and psychologists will assess their mental health, with extra support available at military hospitals if needed.
Onicca Kwakwa, spokesperson for the Minister of Defence, painted a picture of the scene at Waterkloof: “You can see most of them on their phones happy to be speaking to their families.” But physical reunions will wait. “They’ll only be integrated with the families after 3 to 4 days,” she explained, as protocols take priority. The delay in the first group’s return had already heightened anxiety, with Kwakwa noting, “Now it’s been a day filled with anxiety for many South Africans and most especially the families of the soldiers that have meant to return to South Africa but one can’t imagine the emotions that they are experiencing now being back on home soil.”
The SANDF has been supporting families since the mission’s tragic losses. After the 14 deaths in January, chaplains and other services stepped in, and a Peacekeepers’ Day event on 29 May in Bloemfontein allowed Motshekga to meet grieving relatives. “We continue to support them, especially the children with education support,” Kwakwa said, showing the force’s commitment beyond the battlefield.
Logistical Woes and Funding Struggles
The delay exposed deeper issues within the SANDF, particularly its reliance on SADC for logistics. “It is a SADC mission,” Motshekga said. “We as a country fall under the leadership of SADC. The logistics really are led by SADC, and as a force-contributing country, we are led by SADC.” When the airline switch and equipment problems arose, the SANDF had little room to manoeuvre.
Funding shortages made matters worse. “Lessons learned—it makes my case better that government has to give us more money to improve our capabilities,” Motshekga said. “If we had our own capability, we would have just picked up our children and landed them at the airbase.” A recent R2 billion budget cut left the SANDF with R57 billion instead of R64 billion, straining resources. Sangweni called for support: “South Africans and government must capacitate the SANDF such that we can do more in terms of peace in the region,” pointing to past efforts during floods, riots, and COVID-19.
Planning also came under scrutiny. “Maybe we have to plan differently—Plan A and Plan B—because with Plan A, we thought they’d arrive here, and now we’re working on Plan B,” Motshekga admitted. The hiccups have sparked a push for better preparation and self-reliance in future missions.
Extra Insights: Equipment, Rumours, and Partnerships
Amid the challenges, some positives emerged. “There’s no equipment that will be left in the mission area,” Sangweni confirmed. Damaged gear is being destroyed or returned under UN protocols, ensuring nothing is lost to the enemy. Rumours of pregnant soldiers surfaced, but Motshekga clarified: “Pregnancy is not a disease—it’s a condition. It depends on what stage of pregnancy you’re in to be removed from an area of risk.” No heavily pregnant troops were in this group, as they would have been repatriated earlier.
The flight on Friday carried only South Africans. “The 249 on board are South African soldiers,” Motshekga said. “Malawians will go with their aircraft,” keeping the returns separate. This coordination reflects the SADC partnership that defined the mission.
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